i should have known better than to challenge the great consensus record of january 2013 but while i like individual tracks over the course of the record this sounds way more of a piece than a rap record that had what 5 different producers that included tracks recorded for three different projects

nahhhh it's not a consensus record. a bunch of people love it but there are certain people i follow who are kind of bellwethers for consensus hype records (more industry-focused journalists etc) and they don't care at all

yes but you being able to name everyone who likes it doesnt mean that ppl wont all be loving it in 2 mo. after the guilt-tripping thinkpieces about why this is being slept on. i mean, it just went #1 on itunes R&B/soul

to me, this record is cool but in a faint echoes of LTTP way, but where that record had variety, this one sticks to pretty much one overarching feel, imo. LTTP is the record w/ which by comparison this feels 'samey'

idk like i said ... i like it. it just feels premature that everyone is so completely on board from jump

i've been kinda nervous about what others would think because i've had it for so long w/o being able to talk about it, and it def was not immediate for me, so it's really gratifying that people are on board immediately

it's not really similar enough to LTTP in its aims/sounds/scope for the comparison to really mean much imo - also the whole point of LTTP was the theatrical multiplicity of voices and sounds and perspectives, whereas this is an album from a singular singer-songwritery pov that's specifically designed to be a cohesive work

the thing about iTunes is they update their sales ranks constantly (hourly?) so if you get a cult rushing the gates when something first drops, that doesn't necessarily mean it'll sell enough throughout the week to do major damage on the Billboard charts. although it would be pretty cool if she does crazy numbers for an independent R&B release.

idk after the last year encouraging critics to get stoked about an R&B record feels like a downhill battle, like, not that miguel & frank arent good but after that jeremih nonsense im kind of like, critics will buy anything

sure well enjoy your cheerleading i feel like this record wont withstand the long term SUPERENTHUSIASTIC CLASSIC scrutiny but more power to you b/c it is a good record. dont feel like its turning my head upside down or anything

the thing about iTunes is they update their sales ranks constantly (hourly?) so if you get a cult rushing the gates when something first drops, that doesn't necessarily mean it'll sell enough throughout the week to do major damage on the Billboard charts. although it would be pretty cool if she does crazy numbers for an independent R&B release.